by Holly
So if you’re wondering what to do with leftover turkey, look no further! Leftovers are one of my favorite parts of the holidays since it means easy meals for weeks to come (YAY!!).
Below is a collection of the best leftover turkey recipes and ideas. Whether you want to completely recreate a new recipe like turkey soup or keep it simple with a hot turkey sandwich the possibilities are endless!
What To Do With Leftover Turkey
The great thing about roasting turkey or turkey breasts is that it’s cooked once and then you have easy prep for days (or weeks to come)! I use every bit of the turkey from the neck and backbone to the carcass.
Regardless of how you intend to use it, store leftover turkey meat and bones in airtight containers or zippered bags. This will help keep it fresh as long as possible.
How Long is Leftover Turkey Good For?
- In the fridge, the leftover turkey should last 3-5 days.
- In the freezer, it should last for up to a month if frozen. Perfect when you intend to use it later!
What to Make With Leftover Turkey
When it comes to leftover turkey ideas there is no shortage. Especially when you consider that almost every recipe made with chicken is great with turkey too! A delicious turkey pot pie or turkey salad sandwich are just some of the delicious ways to use it.
Bones, Neck, Giblets, and Carcass
If you make spatchcock turkey keep the back bone to add to turkey broth for soup.
Use the carcass or the neck from your Thanksgiving turkey for Turkey Stock (or Broth). This can also be made in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.
Use the giblets in gravy or add them to leftover stuffing. If you’d like, keep the livers to make patè.
Leftover Turkey Soups
Bell warming soups are a great way to enjoy leftover turkey and they are so easy to make. Perfect for the cooler months, toss them in the crockpot or make them on the stove for a quick and easy meal! Serve with some dinner rolls or a thick slice of garlic bread to soak up every last drop!
Creamy Turkey Soup Recipes
- Hearty Turkey Stew (with leftover turkey) – thick, cozy and creamy with carrots and potatoes, this rustic turkey stew is a new favorite!
- Creamy Wild Rice Soup – a classic soup recipe for good reason. Wild rice, vegetables and tender chunks of leftover turkey in a creamy broth.
- Leftover Turkey Soup with Potato Drop Dumplings – A simple turkey soup with mashed potato dumplings. A great way to use up broth and potatoes!
- Turkey Tortilla Soup – Turkey Tortilla Soup is easy to make and is full of southwestern flavor.
- Turkey Tetrazzini Soup – A delicious slurpable spin on a classic turkey tetrazzini.
Broth Based Soups
- Turkey Soup – Simply perfect. No odd ball ingredients, this leftover turkey recipe full of goodness.
- Slow Cooker Turkey Vegetable Soup – jam packed with veggies in a tomato broth, this turkey soup is easy to make inh the slow cooker. Add in leftover vegetables from dinner too!
- Slow Cooker Cajun Bean Turkey Soup– Cajun bean soup is a hearty and delicious way to enjoy leftovers and great to feed a crowd. This soup reheats beautifully.
- Turkey Noodle Soup – turkey, vegetables and noodles cook on the stovetop in just a few simple steps.
- Spicy Southwest Turkey and Bean Soup – leftovers with a kick. This soup is great topped with sour cream, salsa and some jalapenos.
- Leftover Turkey & Sweet Potato Soup – hearty, healthy and delicious. This soup is one you’ll feel good about.
Turkey Chili Recipes
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- White Turkey Chili leftover turkey chili in a flavorful sauce. This recipe cooks in the slow cooker for an easy hands off meal.
- White Turkey Chili leftover turkey chili in a flavorful sauce. This recipe cooks in the slow cooker for an easy hands off meal.
Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are my favorite, easy to make ahead of time, low on dishes, and belly-warming for sure! Most Chicken Casserole recipes start with cooked chicken and it can almost always be substituted for cooked turkey (which is a big part of the reason I cook more turkey than I need).
Rice Casseroles
- Turkey Broccoli Rice Casserole – instant rice (or Minute Rice) makes this recipe extra fast. Kids and adults alike love it.
- Wild Rice Casserole – Substitute the chicken for leftover turkey for an easy casserole.
Pasta Casseroles
- Turkey Tetrazzini – This creamy pasta dish has leftover turkey and mushrooms with spaghetti in a creamy sauce. Top it all with cheese and bake until bubbly.
- Creamy Turkey Casserole – Super quick prep and any kind of pasta, this shortcut meal is great for leftovers.
Other Casseroles
- Turkey Pot Pie – literally perfect. Flaky crust, tender leftover turkey, a flavorful creamy sauce and cozy veggies.
- Cornbread & Leftover Turkey Casserole – a bit like turkey pot pie but with a fluffy cornbread topping.
- Leftover Turkey Enchiladas – tortillas filled with leftover turkey, smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese and baked until bubbly.
- Herbed Turkey Stroganoff – this saucy herby dish is full of flavor (and leftover turkey) and it’s perfect spooned over leftover mashed potatoes or pasta.
- Cheesy Turkey Zucchini Casserole – Zucchini and turkey mix with stuffing in a new family favorite casserole.l
- Turkey Stuffing Roll Ups – All of the flavors of turkey dinner in turkey rolls. Use deli turkey or thin slices of leftover turkey. If your leftovers are too hard to roll, stack ’em up!
- Leftover Turkey Casserole – This leftover turkey recipe has all of the goodness of thanksgiving diner in one dish.
Leftover Turkey Salads & Sandwiches
Leftover turkey is, of course, great for meals like soups and casseroles but it makes for a great lunch too! We use it in place of chicken in our favorite Chicken Salad Sandwiches and add it to Dill Pickle Pasta Salad for a hearty meal! My absolute favorite way to enjoy leftover turkey is as a hot turkey sandwich though (recipe below)!
Salads
- Turkey Cranberry Pasta Salad – Creamy and flavorful, this is great for lunches throughout the week.
- Leftover Turkey Salad – This turkey salad is quick and creamy. Serve as a turkey salad sandwich or spoon over lettuce.
Sandwiches
- Easy Turkey Wraps – use deli turkey or leftover turkey. Add in some leftover cranberry sauce too!
- Club Sandwich – Turkey + BLT = club sandwich! This is one of our all time favorites.
- Turkey Bacon Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Crispy, melty, gooey goodness.
- Cranberry Turkey Pinwheels – Make ahead and served for snacks, appetizers or lunches.
- Monte Cristo Sandwich – A crisp coated sandwich filled with ham, turkey and lots of melty cheese. Dip in jam or better yet, cranberry sauce.
- Turkey Sandwich – Simple and delicious.
Am I overlooking it? A while back I pinned the leftover Turkey Dinner Stacks and for the life of me, I can no longer find it. I mean, I can figure it out but just curious where to find it.
Hi Sue, we heat some gravy and add the sliced turkey into it until heated through. We toast the bread, spread mayonnaise on it, and top with the turkey gravy mixture and enjoy!
Great list! Missing turkey mac & cheese. :) This year we smoked the turkey and made a great smoked turkey jalapeno mac & cheese! Also a fantastic pot pie that went from the freezer to the oven. Dishes that freeze well really help stretch the leftovers.
All of those sound delicious, Andrew! Thanks for sharing.
Just want to learn. New recipes for my family
These are our favorite turkey recipes but you can find more recipes in our recipe index. Happy Cooking!
Great ideas! It looks like I’m getting snowed in instead of the grocery shopping that I was planning tomorrow. I guess it’s a good thing that Thanksgiving turkey leftovers are so versatile! We will be enjoying them for another day or two.